Walcott Makes The Difference For Arsenal

Filed under Champions League by on March 31, 2010 at 9:13 pm {no comments}
Theo Walcott.
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In a thrilling game at the Emirates stadium Arsenal battled back  from 2-0 down to draw 2-2- with Barcelona in the Champions League quarter final,  thanks in no small part to Theo Walcott who grabbed their first soon after comming on as a second half substitute.

In a game for the neutral fan to savour Barcelona dominated the first half with a great display of passing football and only some great goal keeping allowed Arsenal to go in level at half time. However Barcelona scored just after the start of the second half through Ibrahimovic and he added a second just before the hour mark.

Things looked bleak for Arsenal but in the 69th Minute Walcott pulled a goal back whicg gave the team a lift and when Puyol fouled Fabregas 5 minutes from time Arsenal scored the equaliser giving them a chance of progressing to the semi finals. Unfortunately both Fabregas and Puyol will miss the second leg as they are suspended after picking up cards.

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Lyon Come Out On Top In The All French Quarter Final

Filed under Champions League by on March 31, 2010 at 8:59 am {no comments}
Lyon
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In the all French Champions League Quarter Final 1st leg Lyon beat Bordeaux 3-1 to take a big step towards a semi final place. Although the score looks comprehensive Bordeaux had plenty of chances but lacked experience at this level and will struggle to overcome this deficit. This will be Lyon’s 1st Champions League Semi Final should they prevail.

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Bayern Munich’s Turn For Late Winner

Filed under Champions League by on March 31, 2010 at 8:49 am {no comments}
NOVEMBER 5, 2008 - Football : Wayne Rooney of ...
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Bayern Munich grabbed an injury time winner last night against Manchester United to set up a thrilling game in the second leg at Old Trafford on 7th April. In a game which saw a repeat of the 1999 Champions League Final in which Manchester United went a goal down before winning with two late goals, things looked like going United’s way again as Wayne Rooney struck in the 2nd minute scoring. This was  his 34th goal of the season in all competitions. However they failed to capitalise on their good start and it was not a major surprise when French International Franck Ribery struck the equaliser mid way through the second half. Then in a dramatic twist of fate Ivica Olic took advantage of a defensive lapse by Evra to coolly score the winner two minutes into injury time. This time it was Bayern’s turn to stage a late comeback  win and they now go into the second leg knowing a draw will take them through.

A major worry for United will be the ankle injury Wayne Rooney suffered late in the game, which could rule him out of the crucial title clash with Chelsea and possibly the return leg against Bayern, who themselves will be stronger if as expected Arjen Robben returns.

A major worry for United will be the ankle injury Wayne Rooney suffered late in the game,which could rule him out of the crucial title clash with Chelsea and possibly the return leg against Bayren, who themselves will be stronger if as expected Arjen Robben returns.

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What A Difference A Year Makes For Southampton FC

Filed under Football League Trophy by on March 29, 2010 at 8:55 am {no comments}
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Just over a year ago Southampton Football Club and its fans were in varying states of despair as they plunged into administration leaving it with an uncertain future. Having started the 2009-10 season in League 1 with a 10 point deduction I would imagine they would have no real expectations for the season bar avoiding relegation and it was a humbling decline for a club who were in Premier league in 2005.

Sunday gave the whole of Southampton something to shout about as they gained their 1st Silverware since winning the FA Cup way back in 1976 with a display fitting of the occasion.

The 4-1 scoreline in no way flattered them and in Adam Lallanathey have a star of the future. Carlisle were no match for Southampton on the day and looked a little overawed by the occasion and suffered their fourth defeat in this final in five visits.

Southampton still have an outside chance of making the playoffs and if they are still in League 1 next season they will be a short priced favourite for the title.

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Carlsle v Southampton in the JP Trophy Today

Filed under Football League Trophy by on March 28, 2010 at 9:42 am {no comments}
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Carlisle will make their 5th appearance in the Johnstone Paint Trophy final today at Wembley where they will face an in form Southampton side who will start as favourites. For those not familiar with the competition it is the Football League Trophy which was introduced to allow League 1 and 2 sides a chance to play at Wembley and has had various sponsors over the years.

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Ajax Stroll into the Dutch KNVB Cup Final

Filed under European Club Cups by on March 27, 2010 at 2:25 pm {no comments}
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Amsterdam based football club Ajax had an easy passage into the Dutch KNVB Cup up final beating second division side Go Ahead Eagles 6-0. They will division rivals Feyenoord who advanced after beating league leaders FC Twente from Enschede 2-1.

This will be the teams first final meeting since 1980 when Feyenoord won 3-1 thanks largely to two goals from current Iceland assistant manager Pétur Pétursson. It should be a good final and Ajax will be hoping for another league and cup double,  which they won in the 2001-2 season.

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Tottenham Beat Fulham to Secure an FAC Semi Final Place

Filed under FA Cup by on March 25, 2010 at 1:04 pm {no comments}
LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 26: Bobby Zamora of...
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In the Fa Cup Quarter Final replay at White Hart Lane Tottenham finally overcame a plucky Fulham side to secure a Wembley Semi Final against Portsmouth.  In a classic game of two half’s Fulham dominated large periods of the 1st half and were deservedly leading 1-0 at half time thanks to a Bobby Zamora goal in the 17th minute, which will act as a reminder to Fabio Capello of his credentials as a  potential World Cup Striker. However the second half saw Spurs make two inspired substitutions bringing on David Bentley and Roman Pavlyuchenko both of whom scored as Tottenham ran out comfortable 3-1 winners.

They will now fancy their chances of progressing to the Final as they face a struggling Portsmouth side who have been devastated by their sorry plunge into administration. As for Fulham they can be proud of a successful cup run and still have a great chance of progressing in the Europa League .

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Rangers Hopes Of The Scottish Treble Dashed By Dundee Utd

Filed under Scottish Cup by on March 25, 2010 at 12:45 pm {no comments}
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With The Scottish League Cup already in the trophy cabinet and an almost unassailable lead in the Scottish Premier League Rangers had high hopes of completing another domestic treble. However it was not to be as Dundee United grabbed a last gasp winner against an admittedly under strength Rangers team.

Dundee United will now play 1st Division side Raith Rovers in the Semi Final for the chance to play either Celtic or Ross County in the Scottish Cup Final.

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Ross County Reach The Scottish Cup Semi Final

Filed under Scottish Cup by on March 24, 2010 at 11:26 am {no comments}
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Thanks to a late winner Ross County have earned a Scottish Cup Semi Final place against Celtic something even their most die hard fans could only have dreamed about 15 years ago when they were becoming members of the Scottish League.
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Europa League Quarter Final Draw Favours Fulham

Filed under Europa League by on March 23, 2010 at 4:41 pm {no comments}
Fulham's crest since 2000
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The remaining English representatives in the Europa League had greatly differing fortunes in the draw which could lead to Fulham appearing in their 1st ever European Final.  Liverpool on the other hand will have done it the hard way should they make it.

Fulham after their stunning win over Juventus have been rewarded with a quarter final tie against German club Wolfsburg who scraped past Russian side Rubin Kazan in extra time. If Fulham reproduce the fighting quality they showed against Juve they should easily reach the Semi Finals where they will met the winner of Hamburg and Standard Liege, neither of whom are setting their respective leagues alight this season. If you could have hand picked your path to the Final this would have been the route.

Liverpool on the other hand have a really tough tie against current Portuguese league leaders Benfica who will prove to be no pushovers and should they get through that one will have to face the winner of the all Spanish clash between Valencia and Athletico Madrid. Valencia are playing well this year and are currently best of the rest in La Liga.

Liverpool are playing ok at the moment though and with a bit of luck we could see an all English final in Germany latter this year.

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